SECAUCUS, NJ --
New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel was one of MLS All-Star and New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol's five selections for the 2008 MLS All-Star Team that will play English Premiership side, West Ham FC, on Thursday, July 24 at 7 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada (TV: ESPN, TeleFutura).
Despite an injury-hampered season in which he was forced to miss over a month due to a left hamstring strain and back injury, Angel has scored three goals and two assists in nine appearances this season. Two of those goals were game-winners and his third strike came in the Red Bulls' 2-1 loss at Kansas City on July 10 in Angel's first start for New York since June 5.
After joining the League as the Red Bulls' second Designated Player on April 17, 2007, Angel will be making his second-straight appearance at the MLS All-Star Game. Last year, Angel, who was the leading vote-getter for the MLS All-Star Game, scored the game-winning goal and earned Most Valuable Player honors in the All-Stars' 2-0 win over Celtic FC on July 19 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
In 2007, the former Colombian international burst onto the Major League Soccer scene after signing with the Red Bulls from Aston Villa of the English Premier League. In 24 matches, the Colombian striker tallied 19 goals (good for second in MLS) and set new club records for goals in a season, multi-goal games (five), and goals in consecutive games (six from May 19-June 16). A two-time MLS Player of the Month (May and June) and two-time MLS Player of the Week (weeks seven and nine), Angel was a MLS Best XI selection, and was a finalist for MLS MVP and MLS Newcomer of the Year.
Along with Angel, Nicol selected four other players (Pat Onstad - Houston Dynamo, Pablo Mastroeni - Colorado Rapids, Jim Brennan - Toronto FC, Christian Gomez - Colorado Rapids) today while MLS Commissioner Don Garber added two players to the 18-man squad (Edson Buddle - Los Angeles Galaxy, Dwayne De Rosario - Houston Dynamo). Last Thursday, MLS announced the MLS All-Star First XI in Toronto. The First XI received the most votes at their respective positions from four groups - fans, players, media and coaches/general managers.
The Red Bulls' next match is on Saturday, July 19 against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Giants Stadium at 6:30 PM ET (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Radio: WADO 1280). For tickets, please call the Red Bulls at 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.
